Abid Ali, the former Indian Test cricketer and an innovative fielder, passes away at the age of 83.

Syed Abid Ali, an Indian cricketer who played 29 Tests from 1967 to 1974, has died at 83 in California. A medium pacer celebrated for his exceptional fielding and fast running, he notably struck the winning runs at The Oval in 1971, securing India’s first Test series victory in England. Over his career, he took 47 wickets and scored 1018 runs, boasting a versatile batting style. Despite being overshadowed by India’s famous spin quartet, he excelled in first-class cricket with 397 wickets and 8732 runs. After retiring, he coached teams in Andhra, UAE, and Maldives. BCCI president Roger Binny praised his contributions to cricket.

Syed Abid Ali, who represented India in 29 Tests from 1967 to 1974, has passed away in California at the age of 83.
A medium pacer celebrated for his exceptional fielding abilities and swift running between the wickets, one of Abid Ali’s most memorable cricketing moments occurred with the bat: he scored the winning runs for India from No. 8 at The Oval in 1971, marking India’s first series victory in England.
These runs were made with a “square cut that never reached the boundary as it was swallowed by ecstatic fans charging onto the field,” as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
He concluded his career with 47 wickets from 29 Tests, boasting a personal best of 6 for 55 in his debut innings against Australia in Adelaide. His medium pace incorporated sufficient variations that challenged batters. Additionally, he achieved six Test-match fifties, including two fifties in Sydney during his debut series.
It could be argued that he was an allrounder, since those two fifties were scored while opening the batting, and he batted at the top of the order in 21 out of his 53 Test innings, amassing 1018 runs at an average of 20.36 over his Test career. The two fifties in Sydney showcased his “cavalier treatment of the new ball,” according to match reports. Overall, he batted throughout the order for India, except for Nos. 4, 10, and 11.

Moreover, his remarkable fitness and fielding skills were noteworthy. His ESPNcricinfo profile succinctly states: “Abid Ali had the feet of a sprinter, the energy of a marathon runner, and the determination of a decathlete, but unfortunately, he was born 20 years too early. His game was ideally suited for one-day cricket: he bowled brisk medium-pace, fielded brilliantly, and was a proactive lower-order batsman who ran between the wickets as if gliding on invisible skates.”

His commitment to fitness arose at a time when it was not yet commonplace in cricket, earning him a reputation both as a close-in fielder and for his accurate flat throws from the outfield. Former ESPNcricinfo columnist V Ramnarayan, who was a young cricketer in the Hyderabad domestic scene during Abid Ali’s heyday, recounted, “The rigorous training regimen he adhered to often became the topic of exaggerated anecdotes, providing perfect entertainment after a long day at the ground.”

He was also quite the character. Ramnarayan mentioned, “He was expressive in an era when most bowlers tended to suppress their emotions. His appeals to God when he beat the edge, and his sardonic smiles towards batsmen favored by divine intervention – unfairly in Abid’s view – were memorable sights.”

Abid Ali never fully established himself as a prominent figure in Indian cricket, partly due to the unfortunate timing of being a bowler during India’s illustrious spin quartet era. However, he remained a significant player for Hyderabad, participating in 212 first-class matches over 20 seasons, securing 397 wickets at an average of 28.55 and accumulating 8732 runs with 13 centuries and 41 fifties. He played his last Test match in December 1974, his final ODI in June 1975, and concluded his first-class career in 1978-79.

“Shri Syed Abid Ali was a genuine allrounder, a cricketer who embodied the essence of the game,” BCCI president Roger Binny remarked in a statement. “His contributions to India’s historic victories in the 1970s will forever be cherished. His commitment and versatility distinguished him. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends during this difficult time.”

Following his playing career, Abid Ali transitioned into coaching, mentoring the Andhra team in the Ranji Trophy and also serving roles with the UAE and Maldives. At the time of his passing, he was residing in Tracy, California, with his family.

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